by admin | Jun 23, 2016 | Headlines, National News
Technological advancement continues to improve the lives of millions of people around the world. Work gets done faster and resources are utilized more efficiently. These innovations are guided by standards that provide the framework needed to ensure constant growth and improvement. These standards form the backbone of technologies that contribute to the overall reliability and effectiveness of goods and services.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) /International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) define a standard as a document, established by consensus and approved by a recognized body that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context.
Under the Republic Act No. 4109 also known as the Standardization Law of the Philippines, the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) supports industries and protects consumers’ welfare through the development and promulgation, implementation and coordination of standardization activities in the Philippines.
The development of these standards are guided by the Directives Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 issued by DTI-BPS on the principles of standardization, the organization and responsibilities of technical committees, the procedures of technical work, and the structure and drafting of Philippine National Standard. These directives are issued as guides in the development of these standards.
Standards not only provide numerous benefits to individuals by ensuring that the products in the market are safe and reliable, it also promotes business and economic growth as it saves companies’ production time and money, enhances customer satisfaction and increases productivity and competitive advantages. The presence of standards in international market means countries can facilitate in trading goods and eliminate unnecessary barriers to trade. Standards also serve as vehicles for the transfer and application of technology from one country to another.
Standards are prepared either through the Technical Committee (TC) Method or the Fast Track method. Standards prepared through the Technical Committee method undergo a series of deliberations and consultations from concerned stakeholders. In order to achieve the purpose of standardization, transparency and consensus, a technical committee is composed of representatives from several sectors including academe, trade/industry, consumer association, professional, association, research institution, Government agencies and testing institution.
The development process for Philippine National Standards (PNS) follows a sequence of stages with corresponding document associated in each of the stages. Proposal stage (New Work Item Proposal), Committee stage (Committee Draft PNS), Circulation/Enquiry Stage (Draft PNS), Finalization/ Approval Stage (Final Draft PNS), Publication Stage (PNS).
Standards may also be prepared through the Fast Track method. In this process, International Standards shall be given priority. Fast Track procedure for standards development may be applied to international standards which are basic and can be used in standards development such as Guide, Terminology, Vocabulary, Classification and Symbol. This procedure may also be applied for International Standards which at the time of development has been circulated for comments to all sectors concerned. Similarly, this procedure applies to standards developed by other Standards Developing Organizations (SDOs) whose procedures follow the DTI-BPS Directives.
Consistent with its mandated roles and functions, the DTI-BPS shall prioritize standards of national significance such as life, health, safety, national economy and property, environment and efficient use of local resources. With that in mind, the BPS has listed priority areas for standards development and are guided by the Philippine Development Plan (2011-2016); Investment Priorities Plan (IPP); international commitments in the World Trade Organization and WTO Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and the ASEAN priorities and work programs under APEC; and standards for products affecting safety for consumer protection.
As of May 2016, there are 9,678 Philippine National Standards developed or adopted, 7,704 (79.60%) of which are already aligned to International Standards.
As the National Standards Body of the Philippines, the DTI-BPS is tasked to develop/adopt, implement and promote Philippine National Standards (PNS) as mandated in the Republic Act (RA) 4109 Series of 1964.
The DTI-BPS is the Philippines’ member to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
For more info on standards and standardization activities, call the DTI-BPS at 751.4730 or visit the Standards and Conformance Portal – www.bps.dti.gov.ph.
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
by admin | Jun 23, 2016 | Headlines, National News
The Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) DTI Secretary Adrian S. Cristobal, Jr recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala for the two agencies to jointly facilitate business permits, licenses, and endorsements involving investors applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI).
DTI Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino S. Rodolfo said that the MOA is expected to improve ease of doing business in the country. “To benefit fully from the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and global market access, it is important that we offer a conducive environment to investors, a place where they could quickly set up their business. An important first step is to make it easy for them to comply with government requirements,” he said.
According to Rodolfo, simplifying business processes, coupled with the implementation of the Comprehensive National Industrial Strategy (CNIS), is keyto the development of the agriculture sectorwhich needs to modernize for it to be globally competitive. The CNIS links the manufacturing sector with agriculture and services sectors to mutually reinforce a virtuous cycle of growth.
Figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that investments in the agriculture sector slowed down to 4.4 percent in the first four months of 2016, weighed down primarily by the persistent El Niño phenomenon and the need to upgrade from traditional farming to a globally competitive agribusiness sector. Meanwhile, the manufacturing sector retained its momentum, growing by 8.1% during the same period due to improved business and consumer sentiments.
Under the MOA, a BOI representative is now authorized to assist a client to submit and follow up the application for endorsements, certifications, and/or permits with the DA up to the extent permissible by law. The MOA also provides for BOI to assist the DA in disseminating information regarding all relevant rules, guidelines, and standards on matters covering public investments, agricultural development and support services for domestic and export-oriented business enterprises and other related matters.
The MOA also provides for the DA to regularly provide BOI with copies of all relevant rules, guidelines, and standards on matters covering public investments, agriculture development and support services for domestic and export-oriented business enterprises. DA is also expected to provide BOI with a checklist of all requirements on application for accreditation, endorsements, certifications, and permits issued by the concerned bureaus and offices under the agency. DA will also regularly coordinate and cooperate with BOI drafting relevant policies relating to IPP, and other relevant rules, guidelines, and standards affecting investors and investment promotion activities.
Since 2014, the BOI, through the Investment Assistance Service (IAS) has signed five (5) other MOAs with Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Department of Tourism (DOT), Bureau of Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Health (DOH)-Health Facilities Regulatory and Services Bureau (HFRSB) to help businesses set up businesses in the Philippines.
“Clearly, the sustained economic growth of the country benefitted from policy reforms and increased collaboration to improve the ease of doing business in the country. The country’s current investment climate should benefit not only firms – whether foreign and domestic, large or small – but society at large,” Rodolfo concluded.
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
by admin | Jun 23, 2016 | Headlines, National News
Seven government agencies are set to revoke or repeal respective rules and regulations that are deemed burdensome and irrelevant in a bid to eliminate red tape that seriously impacts the competitiveness of the economy.
The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) with an initial seven participating agencies, namely : Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), Finance (DOF), Energy (DOE), Budget and Management (DBM), Tourism (DOT) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) are launching Project Repeal to signify their commitment to reduce regulatory cost by repealing or amending unnecessary, costly, and out-dated rules in their respective agencies.
During the 1st Repeal Day, 3,959 issuances shall undergo repeal or amendment, mainly composed of Department Administrative Orders (DAO), Joint Administrative Orders (JAO), Memorandum Orders (MO), and Circulars. Of this number, 1,900 are subject for repeal, while 2,032 previously repealed rules are subject for deletion/delisting from official websites and rosters of regulations and laws, 22 similar issuances are subject for consolidation into one legal document, and 5 are for amendment or deletion of certain provisions .
This is part of an initial 17,388 laws and issuances gathered for review by the Project Repeal Technical Working Committee from different government agencies. Some of the rules submitted to the committee date back to the Commonwealth and Martial Law periods. NCC expects the list to expand as the other agencies and the public have continued to submit proposals.
Project Repeal was inspired by reform initiatives of other countries like United Kingdom (Red Tape Challenge), Australia (Cutting Red Tape Initiative),South Korea (Regulatory Guillotine) and Vietnam (Project 30). Fourteen other countries have also such similar undertakings
Prior to the creation of Project Repeal, four government agencies started their own anti-red tape measures. For instance, DTI revoked 133 DAO and JAOs last year to streamline the issuances that affect its frontline operations. DOF, on the other hand, ordered the review of all policies including those of its attached agencies (SEC, BOC, BIR) for rationalization. The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) have their own regulatory improvement programs.
NCC envisions Project Repeal to reduce the cost of compliance for businesses as well as generate savings for the citizens. This could be made possible through a whole-of-a-government approach of instituting a system for repealing laws and allowing public participation in the repeal process.
For more info, email the Project Repeal Team at project.repeal@competitive.org.ph
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
by admin | Jun 22, 2016 | Headlines, National News
The Board of Investments (BOI), the industry development and investments promotion arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is continuing its efforts to further strengthen the awareness level of its stakeholders on the latest government investment policies, regulations, and procedures. This year, it plans to conduct about 5 investor awareness seminars throughout the country.
The BOI Investment Awareness Seminar to Strengthen the Investors and Stakeholders (BOI ASSIST) BOI-registered and prospective investors are briefed on the latest investment policies and business registration procedures of various government agencies.
“It is very important that we offer a conducive environment to investors—a place where they could quickly set up, expand, and/or diversify their businesses. An important first step is to capacitate and make them fully aware of the latest government policies, regulations, and procedures, making it easy for them to comply with government requirements,” said BOI Director for Investment Assistance Service Domingo Bagaporo.
Two seminars were already conducted in the first half of the year at the Best Western Plus Antel Hotel in Makati City and at the Development Academy of the Philippines. Three more seminars will be conducted at the second half of the year.
Attended by around 60 participants, the first seminar was specifically geared for companies in the renewable energy sector and in the healthcare facilities and services sector planning to register, expand and/or diversify their business projects with the BOI. Partner government agencies such as the Department Energy, the Department of Health, and the Department of Agrarian Reform, sent resource persons to address the concerns of participants.
The second seminar was attended by around 70 participants. Topics include the agencies’ policies and procedure on availment of incentives. Atty. Euvimil Nina R. Asunsion of the Bureau of Internal Revenue who discussed the Bureau’s policies and procedure on availment of Incentives, Atty. Maria Corazon A. Arancon of the Investment Ombudsman, and Mr. Jose Antonio S. Vilar of the Philippine Stock Exchange who highlighted the benefits of publicly listing a company, which is a requirement for a BOI-registered company.
During investor awareness seminars, the participants are briefed on the available aftercare services of BOI. BOI assists investors in the facilitation of their issues and concerns arising from dealings with other government agencies during or after the BOI registration. Participants are also oriented on the process of availing incentives, the investors’ obligations as BOI registered firms and how the agency monitors their compliance.
Partner agencies for the BOI ASSIST include among others, Bureau of Customs, Food and Drug Administration, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, Housing Land Use Regulatory Board, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Office of the Ombudsman, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
by admin | Jun 22, 2016 | Headlines, National News
Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) Adrian Cristobal Jr. welcomed the recent approval and signing of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on controlled chemicals saying such development balances national security and industry development.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Senen Sarmiento signed on June 9, 2016 the IRR on controlled chemicals, as recommended by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ricardo Marquez. The IRR is set to be published in an official gazette on July 25, 2016 and will be effective 15 days after.
The IRR is pursuant to Section 4-C to 4-F of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1866 as amended by Republic Act (RA) No. 9516, which provides the list of chemicals to be controlled, the streamlined procedures for the regulation including storage, handling, and transport of controlled chemicals; and the accreditation guidelines for logistics providers, including those that are company-owned trucks and service vehicles.
The IRR is a product of the consolidated inputs and insights of the members of the various meetings and consultations of a main technical working group (TWG) co-chaired by Trade Undersecretary and Board of Investments (BOI) Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo and DILG Undersecretary Edwin Enrile; and the three sub-technical working groups on the categorization of chemicals, streamlining of processes, and accreditation of logistics providers and company-owned trucks and service vehicles on controlled chemicals.
“The promulgation of the IRR fully regard that safety of our countrymen is paramount as the regulation supports regulation of storage, transport, and handling of chemicals which can be used to create bombs. At the same time, the IRR also supports industry development particularly in the area of ease of doing business in the country as the regulation streamlines and rationalizes the processes, benefiting not just the chemicals industry, but backward and forward linked industries as well including manufacturing, agriculture, health, and research and development,” Secretary Cristobal said.
Among the salient features of the IRR are as follows: Reduction of the list of PNP controlled chemicals from 101 to 32 (15 High Risk and 17 Low Risk); Streamlined procedures in filing applications for permits and licenses, reducing the days of approval from 20 to 10 for new applications; Non-imposition of police escort fees and accreditation of logistics providers; the PNP Chief may consult with the stakeholders and seek the approval of the DILG Secretary in revising the IRR and its annexes; Recognition of good track record of PNP clients through the Issuance of a certificate of good standing to a licensed entity which has complied with the requirements of the IRR and has no derogatory report; Eventual automation of the processes through the development and application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT); Commissioning of an R&D Team by the DILG Secretary to evaluate and determine the explosive potential of a chemical; Establishment of Regional Civil Security Units (RCSUs) which will be the regional focal point of the Civil Security Group (CSG) of the PNP; Upholding of the validity of licenses pending action from the PNP; Authorization of dealers to sell to unlicensed entities at a maximum quantity subject to certain conditions; Flexibility in requiring a commercial/proforma invoice in lieu of Bill of Lading or Airway Bill for application of Permit to Unload (PTU); and Provision for PNP to follow clearly-defined procedures in the inspection of storage facilities.
“Chemicals are basic inputs in the operations of the manufacturing sector and therefore it is important to the system up and running smoothly as this would easily translate into improvement of the other sectors within the manufacturing industry,” said Secretary Cristobal.
Secretary Cristobal said that since 2012, the BOI, the industry development and investments promotion arm of the DTI, started reviving industry development in the country with the goal of strengthening the collaboration, closer discussion, and more active cooperation with various industries and sectors. In the same year, the call for the crafting of industry roadmaps was initiated. “The chemicals industry was among the first to develop and share their roadmap with the agency, and subsequently a Sectoral Working Group (SWG) on chemicals was formed with discussions centering on various concerns affecting the growth and competitiveness of the industry namely ease of doing business, environmental issues, human resource development issues, trade and investment issues, and others,” he said.
In the SWG discussions, it was highlighted that chemicals is one of the most highly-regulated industries in the country, noting there are currently seven government agencies regulating the industry namely the Food and Drugs Authority, Philippine Drugs and Enforcement Agency, Dangerous Drugs Board, PNP, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Customs, and the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority.
“Of course, we all know the consequences. There have been duplications in the requirements and the processes in getting permits and licenses which were really burdensome, cumbersome, and very costly, affecting the competitiveness of the industry. Aside from the direct impact on the chemicals industry, these complicated processes also snowballed given the chemical industry’s inter-linkages with the other industries and subsectors within the manufacturing sector especially those using chemicals as an input or intermediate raw material. As a result, there have been reports of companies shutting down operations due to the difficulties they were facing in terms of complying with the different regulations,” he said.
The SWG discussions were then brought at the Economic Cluster meeting in July 2015. Upon instruction of President Aquino to the Cabinet Secretary and the Secretaries of DTI and DILG, the TWG on PNP-controlled chemicals was then created to resolve various issues. BOI served as secretariat for all the TWGs and sub-TWGs.
The sub-TWG on the categorization of controlled chemicals is co-chaired by Dr. Fabian Dayrit of the Ateneo Department of Chemistry, ICP, and NAST, and Col. Victor Drapete of the PNP Crime Laboratory. The members are mostly chemists and chemical engineers namely: Dr. Annabelle Briones and Hermelina Bion, both of DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute; Dr. Lilibeth Coo of the University of the Philippines Institute of Chemistry; Engineer Gretchen Fontejon-Enarle of the Samahan sa Pilipinas ng mga Industriyang Kimika; and Nilo Rebay of the Semiconductors & Electronics Industries in the Philippines. They categorized the chemicals into high-risk and low-risk based on characterization of the explosive potential of each chemical using scientific qualifiers.
The sub-TWG on streamlining of procedures meanwhile was led by Export Development Council deputy executive director Emma Mijares and Police Chief Superintendent Elmo Sarona and Police Senior Superintendent Cesar Binag of PNP Firearms and Explosives Office. The-TWG on the accreditation of logistics providers or company-owned trucks and service vehicles on the other hand was led by PEZA general manager Veronica Magsino and Police Senior Superintendent Fausto Manzanilla of the PNP Explosives Management Division.
The PNP, last January 2013, expanded to 41 substances, its master list of regulated chemicals including common household chemicals and those used by various business industries and sectors. The expansion of the list required companies to secure a permit with the PNP to import, handle, or transport chemicals including those that are commonly-used in manufacturing. The move, according to PNP, was in keeping with the directive of PD 1866 as amended by RA No. 9516.
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
